Newcastle United are set to hold talks with Alexander Isak about a new contract this summer and Shay Given said that extending the striker’s stay would send out a statement ‘to upset a few people at the very top’
Arsenal had previously been linked with a move for Alexander Isak but Newcastle United are in a strong position
Newcastle United could ‘send a message’ that they are ‘really here to compete’ by tying Alexander Isak down to a new contract.
That is the view of Shay Given after Newcastle CEO Darren Eales previously confirmed that the Magpies would hold ‘discussions’ with the striker and his camp about fresh terms this summer.
Although Isak still has three years left to run on his current contract, which puts Newcastle in a strong position, the club’s wish to discuss a new deal should not come as a surprise.
Newcastle, after all, have handed new contracts to other key players like Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon in the last 18 months or so.
Isak also has admirers across Europe having long proved his worth after scoring 62 goals in 109 games following his club-record move from Real Sociedad in 2022.
Such is Isak’s standing in the game, football finance expert Kieran Maguire even once told ChronicleLive that extending the 25-year-old’s stay at St James’ Park would be the ‘equivalent of signing a £100m player’ and Given also felt that a new deal would be a real statement of intent.
“They talk about him because he’s so good and a lot of clubs in the Premier League would love to have Alexander Isak, but we want to keep him as well,” the Newcastle legend said.
“That’s the big message. It’s as important to keep your best players as it is to add to them as well.
“Qualification for the Champions League is a big thing for Alexander and the rest of the team and I think that will be key for keeping him on board.
“I’m not the powers at be at Newcastle but, for me, it would be more about tying Alexander down to a longer contract, building your team around him and really send a message out to the rest that we really are here to compete and to upset a few people at the very top.”
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